Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of breaking a mutually agreed-upon ceasefire to prevent the evacuation of civilians in Mariupol while adding that an airstrike by Russian forces destroyed a hospital complex in the same city.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that women and children are trapped in the rubble and, according to local authorities, the number of victims is not yet known.
The credit agency Fitch has downgraded the country’s credit rating to “C” — one step above defaulting on its international loans. Two million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, according to UN officials.
The Pentagon rejected an announcement from Poland that it would give the United States its MiG-29 fighter jets for use by Ukraine. Russian forces have disconnected the Chernobyl nuclear power plant from the country’s electricity grid, per Ukrainian authorities.
Meanwhile, the US, UK and EU have all committed to phasing out imports of Russian oil and gas, and several global brands including McDonalds, Coca-Cola and Starbucks have agreed to close Russian operations.
